Reported cases of upskirting — taking unauthorized pictures underneath a woman’s skirt or dress — in the D.C. area have soared in the past three years.

A team of experts reviewed court records in D.C., Virginia and Maryland, and found cases had jumped 70 percent since 2015, according to a report published late last month by NBC Washington. Advocates said these cases, meant to demean and degrade women – including female students – in public, have become a growing threat with the growth of smart phones and social media.

Many of these cases occur at Metro stations, where women are three times more likely than men to be victims of harassment, according to a 2016 report from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority – the agency that oversees the Metro.

Claire Gould, the communications director for Collective Action for Safe Spaces, a non-profit organization that works to combat harassment and assault, said harassment occurs most often in crowded areas, like a Metro station or Metro car.

“It’s always frustrating when women, in particular, have to be more careful in order to avoid things like this.”

“It’s demeaning and an invasion of privacy,” Gould said in an email. “Like any kind of public harassment, we believe everyone deserves the right to move through public spaces without fear of being harassed or assaulted.”

Gould said officials should start a public awareness campaign to curb harassment on the Metro, collect data on the number of incidents and train employees and transit police on how to address sexual harassment.

Terri Poore, the policy director for the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, said upskirting cannot be prevented easily because it occurs in crowded, busy areas — making it difficult to track down perpetrators.

“There is no shortcut around the fact that people are going to have to have courage and stepping in when they see these sorts of behaviors happening and not leave the onus on the victim,” she said. “Really everyone needs to take an active part in preventing this kind of behavior.”

Although upskirting is considered a form of voyeurism, experts said it is difficult to prosecute in D.C. courts. Consent for taking a picture or recording is only required when the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy according to voyeurism laws in D.C.

In 2014, a D.C. judge dismissed charges against a man accused of taking photos up a woman’s skirt at the Lincoln Memorial, citing that the accuser could not have a reasonable expectation of privacy while on the National Mall, according to a Huffington Post report.

Amanda Lindamood, the director of training and community engagement for the D.C. Rape Crisis Center, said it’s difficult to prosecute upskirting because laws pertaining to sexual assault are relatively new and there is no general consensus about how they can be enforced and adjudicated.

“Every district, or every jurisdiction, approaches legislation related to violence in a very different way and it’s kind of a new category of consent to think about it, again as just not a physical violence, but that it has to do with images, has to do with social media,” Lindamood said. “It’s kind of a very new section of the law we’re playing catch up on.”

Students said upskirting and general street harassment is a constant menance, especially on an urban campus.

Freshman Andie Kemmerle said it’s aggravating that women have to constantly be on alert when riding the Metro.

“It’s always frustrating when women, in particular, have to be more careful in order to avoid things like this,” she said. “Whereas, it should be that people shouldn’t be doing this in the first place, but hopefully people are for their own safety, being careful about their surroundings when they’re in public.”

In February, the advocacy group Collective Action for Safe Spaces launched a petition that has garnered 333 signatures to urge the the D.C. Council to pass a bill to training and educate D.C. employees about sexual harassment.

“What can people do to keep themselves safe when the law doesn’t even know what’s legal and what’s illegal anymore?”

That same month, some students accused construction workers renovating Corcoran Hall of street harassment and catcalling. D.C. businesses have installed street exhibits and initialed training programs in recent months to try to prevent harassment across the city.

Gabrielle Battino, a sophomore, said living on an urban campus in a densely populated city makes sexual harassment more of a concern.

“It sucks that I’m a woman on campus and I don’t feel safe 100 percent of the time and I should because this is my community,” Battino said. “I guess the only thing I can do is be cautious and be an advocate for the issue.”

Tamara Criss, a graduate student in public health, said D.C should criminalize upskirting because it will encourage more victims come forward to report incidents.

“You can only imagine no one is going to report anything if nothing is going to happen. I think that increasing the criminalization of the activity would be smart,” Criss said. “What can people do to keep themselves safe when the law doesn’t even know what’s legal and what’s illegal anymore?”

One morning at approximately 10:00 a.m., I was shopping at the Harris Teeter grocer on Kings Contrivance village center in 8620 Guilford Rd, Columbia, MD 21046.After a couple of minutes in one aisle of the produce section. I noticed that one of its tall, black male employees was likely following me.I had not been in the store for long and initially dismissed my passing thought. I continued to another aisle of the section and noticed the same thing which also happened in the aisle right parallel to the wall refrigerator.There were other shoppers around so I decided to get the attention of a female employee who was in the salad section. I explained to her that her black male co-worker was following me though I did nothing wrong.She had already noticed his behavior and decided to wait with me while I retrieved my salad and walked with me part way to the register.

I was disgusted that a black male employee of a grocer (happens frequently in Columbia, Maryland stores) was trying to intimidate me. He was a total stranger, did not articulate anything and just stared at me stone-faced as if he wanted me to leave the store.

The manager was contacted and as usual it was a white male who feigned a shocked reaction said, but “he’s married?!”My response was today’s black males don’t care about that.I also informed him how the female employee already noticed her co-worker’s behavior and assisted me. There is a pattern in which certain white males will, for reasons explored in several blogs across the country (U.S.) and articles of the co-sign of black male abuse of black women.To the white men who do this, you become an accessory and are just as guilty as the perpetrator. I do not know what the white male’s manager motive was for providing the relationship status of the black male employee as his conduct would have been offensive to me (the shopper) whether he was single or not.The reality was that it was just another typical black “Christian” male with no morals and an inclination to harm women.

Many black women have learned over the years that they are on their own, no longer will society to the right thing and when it does it is most likely someone of another race protecting the decent black woman—because they do need protection—from so many black men of today.

One morning at approximately 9:00 a.m., I was entering the Whole Foods grocer10275 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, Maryland 21044 (Howard County), from my car in the designated parking lot.I noticed a dark-skinned black “Christian” male approximately 5’9” in height who appeared to be from the City of Baltimore (unkempt, ignorant face, bubble eyes and a sneer).There are two sets of doors from which you may enter. When I left my car, I noticed he was walking quickly from my left, where the actual exit door was to the right, where I needed to enter.

I proceed to walk to the far, right entry door closer to where the carts are kept outside as he appeared to walk to the left set. As soon as he saw me entering a separate set of doors, he did an about face and walked behind me and murmured something. I immediately zigged and went to the doors to the far left.Apparently, this dark-skinned black “Christian” male was already harassing other patrons as I noticed a Caucasian female Howard County police officer in uniform standing alert in the eating area. I grabbed a handbasket and proceeded to the fresh food/self-service area.The same dark-skinned black male “Christian” followed me, this time with Whole Foods employees noticing. I immediately proceeded to a different section and saw the police officer quickly move towards the black male to address his behavior.After my purchase, I went to the eating area to obtain utensils and napkins and saw a black male eating, glance at me and then look down at his food.I thought, ‘…must be quite embarrassing that a white woman in uniform have to monitor black males just so people can get groceries in peace.’This is the so-called suburbs of Maryland.

Let’s discuss some of the “support” [*sarcasm intended] I as a Sunni Muslim Black American has received from Black “Christians” in Maryland and the District of Columbia over the years (in addition to the near daily street harassment):

1) I already posted about a black guy shallow scratching the driver front door of my car for absolutely no reason except for minding my business and not responding to his attempt to solicit unwanted conversation.

2) Oh, one early morning a dark-skinned Black “Christian”—well actually a Jehovah Witness who lived in my apartment building at the time deep scratched the passenger rear door of my car. She was known for being crazy and none of the residents, regardless of religion liked her. Apparently she was so annoying that even her husband left her and never returned. However, I was the only one who received the extra deluxe treatment of her vandalizing my car. At the time, I worked long hours and woke very early in the mornings. I saw her leaving the exact spot where the scratch was which was not there the night before and because I work late I left my car in a paid, supervised garage and no scratch was there until she was near my car. Unfortunately, the apartment building had no security cameras and I did not catch her in the middle of scratching my car though I reported it to my insurance company—guess who has to pay for this dark-skinned woman’s bigotry and hate crime: me.

3) One day I was walking, as usual in full hijab with a long tunic shirt (it was actually a shirtdress that goes to the knees) with a pair of wool trousers. Two dark-skinned black males intentionally trying to make me uncomfortably by yelling DAYUUUUUMMMM: and stared at my backside while I was waiting for the light to change so I could return to work.

4) In Howard County, Maryland, a dark-skinned black “Christian” male stabbed my tire with some sort of bracket in the middle of the night. My car was parked in a row of several cars and mine was the only one vandalized. I went to Mr. Tire to describe how I found the metal bracket in the side wall and he agreed it was vandalism.

5) I was waiting in line one day for a MATINEE movie at the AMC theatre at Columbia Mall, a dark-skinned black “Christian” female kept bumping into my purse which was the only thing that separated me from her. Each time I moved further away or adjusted my purse to clear more space she would intentionally try to touch me with her right hand—total stranger.

6) One day I was at the East Columbia Public Library on 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, Maryland. Before current renovations, there were a line of computers that had a “15 minute limit” sign on them. At these computers who must stand because they are not intended for long term use. I was standing alone in a line of several computers and none of the others were occupied. A dark-skinned Black “Christian” woman came in right to the computer to my immediate right. I had an inkling she was a trouble-maker and attempted to ignore the negative energy. I was using my right hand on the mouse and out of no where this black “Christian” female takes her left hand and snatches my hand off the mouse I was using. Apparently she was a sociopathic lesbian. I immediately snatched my hand back and exited the computer and used another one. Yes, these black “Christians” male and female who are total strangers in Maryland and the District of Columbia are mentally ill trouble making molesting street harassers who never face the consequences of their actions or charges because of black “Christian” criminal privilege. This is when moral, decent people sympathize with rhetoric against ‘Liberals” because these are the types of people that vote Democrat.

7) At the same library on another occasion, a dark skinned black “Christian” female was using one of the standing computers. I was already seated at one of the regular computers on the main floor that are parallel to the short-term use ones. The black female “Christian” simply looked at me and yelled “sh*#” and “f@*#” , she then chuckled. I gave her a stern look and she left the library.

8) One day I had an appointment for a strain at the Kaiser Medical Center, located at 1221 Mercantile Lane, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774. After being directed to the proper office I decided to use the elevator at the last minute. I was going up and the elevator was taking a long time to close. A black “Christian” butch female comes out of no where and hops on the elevator even though I realized she was going in the opposite direction. She looked at me and did one of those threatening “Good morning” (think of the tone when someone says “you better not say anything” I’ll kick you’re a@#”) in that tone and flinched at me. I thought it was the oddest thing and was going to leave the elevator but now the elevator was working normally. The door was closed and I responded because she was going to hit me. This was a total stranger, as all of them are.

Two of the black female “Christian” employees kept laughing and gossiping about me until I asked the one sitting that I was going to call the insurance who made my appointment and let them know that things were switched without my permission or notification to them.

The entire appointment was a disaster because a shady physical therapist (black male) changed my appointment without notifying me and my insurance company in which I initially had a female therapist. He was a dirty old black “Christian” male who was rude and disrespectful. None of the employees would not say directly but hinted that he was the one that switched my appointment so HE could do the therapy. I filed a formal complaint through the customer service of their underhanded activity.

9) One day I was at the IHOP located at 7371 Assateague Drive, Jessup, Maryland 20794. It was a bright sunny day and I was getting out of my car in the parking lot. I was adjusting my purse and lock the door behind me when a dark skinned Black “Christian” male started walking rapidly towards me from a Northeasterly direction. Suddenly, a Latino man emerged from his white car which was parked to the right of mine, with out of state tags (Florida) and stood looking at the black “Christian” male. The vagrant immediately turned around and walked off the IHOP property. This one surprised me as I usually do not see Latinos in Maryland defend a Black woman, let alone a covered Sunni Muslim. Then again, he had out of state tags so different kind of Latino, but I was grateful.

10) One day I was sitting in my car waiting for it to warm up. I noticed a bulged eye, dark-skinned black male walking around the parking lot but initially dismissed it. The black male was suddenly near my car. He walked over and stood in front of the driver right front of my car and stared at me hunched through the main window. He was so close to and in front of my car that had I began to drive he would have been ran over. I kept looking down because I could not drive with him in my way and if I got out my car then he would have said something inappropriate or followed me. Another black male “Christian” stranger acting the social deviant in broad daylight (morning).

11) One day I was at the Macy’s in Columbia Mall, looking at some shoes in that department. A dark-skinned, overweight black “Christian” female kept giving me a ‘dirty’ look. I ignored it. She then kept walking towards me backwards near one of the shoe displays and was trying to ‘pretend’ that she didn’t see me though I could tell she was trying to bump into me so she could instigate a fight. I moved AWAY from her and she turned to me in a loud voice and said “Don’t!” I looked at her like she was crazy and two other women saw the entire incident. One of them stared the black female troublemaker down. I walked to another section of the shoe department.

On another occasion, different year, I was at the same Macy’s and was looking for a Clarisonic spinbrush (which would later be stolen by a white woman at the YMCA in Ellicott City, Maryland). I hadn’t realized that they were made in a variety of colors, so I was looking at different boxes making sure they all cost the same. A dark-skinned black female came from behind and tried to start an uneasy conversation, then started to get loud. I found her annoying and disruptive and had a feeling she was trying to rob me. I called over a Macy’s employee concerning the product to which she responded and would be the person to ring my purchase at the register. As I took the product intentionally the long route, I noticed the dark-skinned black female following me for no reason. She wasn’t speaking to me, I did not know her and she actually followed me to the register counter with no product in hand and was standing in line instead in back of me. The employee looked just as uncomfortable as I did, the black female kept staring at my product and my purse. When I had to pay using the card swipe machine is on the customer’s side and is not taken behind the counter. I had to take my entire hand to conceal the numbers on my card and swiped. She was still standing there while I immediately replaced my card in my wallet and the cashier gave me my purchase and my receipt. I was initially going to return to my car but thought it best to go into the mall where several people are around, when I did so, she disappeared.

Based on decades of experience, an observant must conclude that the vast majority of today’s Black “Christians” are evil troublemakers with no qualms of performing devilish conduct in the open–black “Christian” privilege reigns in Maryland. God’s standards does not, no matter how many hostile ‘Jesus’ yells these black “Christians” invoke at total strangers who are minding their business.

One day in the late morning I was using the D.C. metro. I was either at Metro Center or Gallery Place Chinatown where there is a convergence of transfer points for various lines. I was descending down the escalator to get to the platform and noticed two major things:
1) there were a few major brown post structure in the center like most stations have.
2) A dark-skinned African “Christian” male was already staring at me from the platform as I was at the top of the descent.

I knew he was directing his unwanted attention at me because I was the only one on the escalator. As a preventative measure, though it was daylight, I made the conscious decision to go right when I stepped off the platform. This way the first post I see could be an initial barrier. To no avail he started walking suddenly in the same direction towards me. I then walked left to get away from him an intentionally positioned myself amongst several people–all Black who pretended they did not see anything.

A short Asian Muslim woman also in hijab was walking past along the platform and NO ONE said any thing to her. She smiled and greeted me and for a small moment I thought that was the end of the crazy man’s exploit. After she was on her way, the African “Christian” male began to extend his arm to towards me to try and touch me and stated “I want talk to you.” I immediately moved several spaces down. He began walking towards me again just as my train arrived. Lucky for me, it was the ONLY thing that protected me, the metro employees did nothing and neither did all the black “Christians” standing on the platform except look down and act as if they did not see anything awry.

Disgusting hypocrites. So there you have it, ALL Black American women (Sunni Muslim, Buddhist, atheist, professional, college students, etc.)are viewed by men of color as trash to be dumped on.

Sexual male harassers are usually poor, inner city, from single-mother homes, baby daddy, a convicted felon (likely sexual assault, battery, handgun violation, controlled dangerous substance) and as black men are primary harassers I noticed they are usually dark-skinned, with unattractive features, shiny, possess a snide or evil look, verbally abusive, severely immature, dress in urban wear, socially stunted, barely articulate, unfoundly arrogant and hate religious people. These black men will state any of the following when you have rejected their predatory behavior and not allow them to further disrespect you or be a willing victim of their sexual, criminal behavior:

Often these loser Negros will get loud to try to keep you engaged. Walk away and ignore the Negro species, maybe he will learn that in order to be among civilized homosapiens he must lose his inherent “apes in heat” proclivities. Haven’t you noticed they literally go ‘BONKERS’ when a woman rejects their sexual harassment? This is due to the fact that they operate from the penal gland and not the logical portion of the brain. These same Negro male species actually wonder why everyone including an increasing number of Black American women believe they are inferior, because you are. You act below civilized society’s standard, you act on bestial/animal level (lowest), you have the least amount of education attainment levels, you save the least, you are least present in your children’s lives and you demonstrate the LEAST amount of respect to women, including Sunni Muslim black women and other women of color. Today’s Black American man chooses to be the least in everything, therefore you are inferior and you project it on innocent women bystanders.

Today’s black American man needs to get some dignity and manners and leave decent women alone in Maryland and elsewhere.